Opera Talk

OPERA TALK

Each month, our Artistic Director David Craig Starkey, hosts a unique conversation or performance about a current topic or production in the opera season. This lecture series takes place at the Reuter Center on the Campus of UNCA as part of the OLLI learning series. The events are free to the public and always include surprise special guests of ALO. For more information visit the Reuter Center website.

Schedule of Events

Approaching Ali: From Stage to Page – Act 1
August 12 | 3pm to 5pmAuthor Davis Miller joins ALO Artistic Director David Craig Starkey for a discussion about Miller’s book Approaching Ali, a biographical reclamation of the life of Muhammad Ali. Lauded as one of the best pieces of sports journalism ever, the book gives us an intimate look at Muhammad Ali’s life after boxing through the shared experiences of Miller and Ali. Our speakers will hold a talk about this international best seller and how the book has become an opera. They will also speak about how the impact of Ali’s passing has prompted Miller and Starkey to begin developing a project to present the work in multiple cities in the South.

Approaching Ali: From Stage to Page – Act 2
September 9 | 1 pm to 2:30pmRecently, bestselling author Davis Miller came back home to North Carolina to discuss his newest work, Approaching Ali with ALO Artistic Director David Craig Starkey. Approaching Ali has recently been translated from page to stage and has become one of the newest works of American opera. They will be performing highlights from Approaching Ali, featuring opera singers and actors Carl DuPont and Ted Federle. This is an exclusive look into the intimacy of this piece, and an enlightening look into the life of The Greatest of All Time. ALO encourages you to come to this lecture, Friday September 9th, from 3 to 5 PM, to glimpse into modern opera and the life of Muhammad Ali.

Live Radio Show with Jeff Messer
September 30 | 3pm to 5pmJoin Jeff Messer of “The Jeff Messer Show” on 880 The Revolution and Artistic Director David Craig Starkey for their LIVE radio show “Art Talk”. You can be apart of the live radio audience and ask questions about the state of arts in Asheville and WNC.

Live Auditions
October 28 | 3pm to 5pmArtistic Director David Craig Starkey and Artistic Advisor John Truitt host a live audition the afternoon before the regular Asheville Lyric Opera Fall Principal Auditions. The audience will get the unique chance to sit in on the auditions of singers from a diverse range of career stages as well as participate in a lecture that will shed light on the thought process behind evaluating these auditions. Come and get an early look at the singers who could be on our mainstage this year!

2017 Season Preview
December 9 | 3pm to 5pmThe ALO will be launching its 18th season and it will be the biggest to date. The special presentation will give you a behind-the curtain look at how the ALO is the only arts organization to present and produce shows and events every month of the 2017 year.